Overture for Winds (Mendelssohn)
From Wind Repertory Project
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (arranged and edited by John Boyd)
Contents |
General Info
Year: 1824 / 1981
Duration: c. 9:20
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Ludwig Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts - $100.00 | Score - $14.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bb Contrabass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass (optional)
Percussion I-II, including:
- Bass Drum
- Cymbal (crash)
- Snare Drum
- Triangle
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The Op. 24 by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was composed in July of 1824 for the court orchestra of Bad Doberan near Rostock, where the young musician was accompanying his father Writing for the Boston Symphony, George Marke remarks, "Some artists develop their craft slowly, others seem to being at the top. There is little difference between Mendelssohn's early and his mature works."
The original score was lost but recopied by Mendelssohn in July of 1826. These two scores were entitled "Nocturno" and were written for the instrumentation of one flute, two clarinets, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, one trumpet, and one English bass horn (a conical bore upright serpent in the shape of a bassoon).
In his correspondence to the publisher Simrock, Mendelssohn mentions his desire to have this eleven instrument version published, but apparently could not locate the score as he never mentions it again to Simrock after March 4, 1839. Mendelssohn did send Simrock and Ouverture fur Harmoniemusik (Overture for Wind Band) scored for twenty-three winds and percussion along with a four-hand piano score on November 30, 1838. The 1838 composition is a re-scoring of the Nocturno for German Band of that era and was not published until 1852 following the death of Mendelssohn.
It has been suggested by musicologists that the 1838 re-scoring was an effort to imitate the orchestral color of Weber's Preciousa Overture. In Weber's overture, a gypsy melody is introduced by a small wind band with percussion accompaniment. At this time, however, Mendelssohn was also negotiating for the publication of the overture by Mori in London. It is quite possible that the re-scoring was an attempt to acquire greater performance opportunities for his work by making it available in settings for British and German band along with a proposed edition for orchestra.
Several editions for modern instrumentation have appeared, all using the 1838 score as their source. However, the rediscovery of the 1826 autograph makes possible this edition based on the most authentic source known to date.
Program Note by John P. Boyd
Commercial Discography
State Ratings
- Florida: VI --- (The Florida Bandmasters Association denotes this as "significant literature.")
- South Carolina: VI
Recent Performances
(To add performances, please join the WRP by contacting the webmaster)
Additional Works for Winds by this Composer
This composer primarily wrote orchestral music. Other transcriptions of his works include:
- Fingal's Cave Overture (tr. by Seredy)
- Ruy Blas Overture (tr. by Shepard)
Additional Resources
- Blocker, L., Cramer, R., Corporon, E. ,Lautzenheiser, T., Lisk, E., & Miles, R. (1996). Teaching music through performance in band (Volume One). Chicago, IL: Gia Publications.
